Troiandan
Earning My Ears
- Joined
- Apr 5, 2008
- Messages
- 67
I've been a Universal annual passholder on and off since 1997 - off due to periodic economic downswings, not lack o' love for the parks. While I do love all of our local theme park offerings, I happily admit my fave is Universal Studios, mostly because of my 30+ year love affair with all things cinematic 
and US's superior execution of this effort. I finally was able to re-establish my preferred passholder status yesterday, and it was good to be home!
Mostly upside - I did get to see/ride the new Disaster, and found it a delightful improvement on Earthquake (although my poor old back had a bit of a test with all the standing!). The director had some hysterical lines (why did Picasso cut off his ear?), and the special effects at the end were as exciting as I remembered. Great job on the queue area too! I also enjoyed seeing the progress on the Simpsons Ride in person instead of photos online. Yes, Krusty's eyes do roll independently of each other in a disturbing, clowns-creep-me-out-too kind of fashion.
I also felt a couple of disappointments in the condition of some older rides, although I'm hoping I just hit at a down time. I dearly love the E.T. ride, so sweet and endearing. However, a lot of the effects were not working properly, the musical cues (especially while the bikes fly high over the city) were turned down and missing bass, and seemed to be pretty worn out and needing paint and other touch ups. Also at MIB there seemed to be a number of areas that looked like they needed a bit of refreshing.
It's been a good year and a half since I've been there, so I'm probably noticing natural wear and tear that isn't as noticeable when one is going more regularly. I'm also assuming that a lot of attention is going into the newer attractions, like Disaster! and the Simpsons ride, and that once those are running in a good groove, the extra attention will go back to the existing attractions. I know that I'm more worn out and could use a fresh coat of paint myself, so it's not a matter of bashing - I just want my favorite park to be all it can be.
I'm headed back today to make a quick go-round at IOA - I'm pretty out of shape, so not quite up to the big guns yet (Hulk, DD, etc), but I want to see what's new, visit what's old, and generally re-acquaint myself with some old friends. I'm enjoying reading all the posts from other park lovers - good information and great memories, seems like a great bunch of folks!
and US's superior execution of this effort. I finally was able to re-establish my preferred passholder status yesterday, and it was good to be home! Mostly upside - I did get to see/ride the new Disaster, and found it a delightful improvement on Earthquake (although my poor old back had a bit of a test with all the standing!). The director had some hysterical lines (why did Picasso cut off his ear?), and the special effects at the end were as exciting as I remembered. Great job on the queue area too! I also enjoyed seeing the progress on the Simpsons Ride in person instead of photos online. Yes, Krusty's eyes do roll independently of each other in a disturbing, clowns-creep-me-out-too kind of fashion.
I also felt a couple of disappointments in the condition of some older rides, although I'm hoping I just hit at a down time. I dearly love the E.T. ride, so sweet and endearing. However, a lot of the effects were not working properly, the musical cues (especially while the bikes fly high over the city) were turned down and missing bass, and seemed to be pretty worn out and needing paint and other touch ups. Also at MIB there seemed to be a number of areas that looked like they needed a bit of refreshing.
It's been a good year and a half since I've been there, so I'm probably noticing natural wear and tear that isn't as noticeable when one is going more regularly. I'm also assuming that a lot of attention is going into the newer attractions, like Disaster! and the Simpsons ride, and that once those are running in a good groove, the extra attention will go back to the existing attractions. I know that I'm more worn out and could use a fresh coat of paint myself, so it's not a matter of bashing - I just want my favorite park to be all it can be.
I'm headed back today to make a quick go-round at IOA - I'm pretty out of shape, so not quite up to the big guns yet (Hulk, DD, etc), but I want to see what's new, visit what's old, and generally re-acquaint myself with some old friends. I'm enjoying reading all the posts from other park lovers - good information and great memories, seems like a great bunch of folks!
